If you are pregnant during flu season, you should get the flu vaccine.
You can get the vaccine for free from a GP or pharmacy when it's available.
Why you should get the flu vaccine
When you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of severe complications if you get flu.
The flu vaccine gives you the best available protection against flu during pregnancy. The vaccine can also provide protection to your baby in the first few months after the birth.
Safety
The flu vaccine is very safe in pregnancy. Flu vaccines have been used in pregnancy for over 50 years.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommend the flu vaccine for all pregnant women in every pregnancy during the flu season.
When to get the flu vaccine
The flu vaccine is available from October each year.
You can get the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. But try to get it as early in your pregnancy as you can.
The sooner you get the vaccine, the sooner you are protected.
Flu strains change every year. If you got a flu vaccine in the previous flu season, you should get the flu vaccine this season.
Side effects
After the vaccine, you may have some mild side effects.
Side effects may include:
- soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection
- headache
- aches
- feeling tired
If you have any of these side effects, take paracetamol and rest. Paracetamol is safe during pregnancy to help avoid a fever.
Reactions are generally mild and serious side effects such as severe allergic reactions are very rare.
Your GP or pharmacist is trained to deal with allergic reactions.
If you are unwell after the vaccine, talk to a GP. The cause may not be a side effect from the vaccine.
Find your patient information leaflet
You can find the patient information leaflets for the vaccines online. The names of adult flu vaccines are Vaxigrip or Influvac.
How to find your patient information leaflet online
Reporting side effects
If you think you may side effects from a vaccine, you can report it to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or a family member can also report the side effect to the HPRA.
Report any harmful effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority - hpra.ie
Other vaccines
You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines in pregnancy. For example, the whooping cough vaccine.